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I-Team probes security breach after workers' files found

Many people go to great lengths to protect their sensitive personal information, and most probably assume their employer is watching out for them, too, but that wasn't the case for thousands of city workers who were part of a large-scale privacy breach. I-Team reporter Barry Simms has the details.

Updated: 7:01 AM EDT Jul 17, 2013

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I-Team probes security breach after workers' files found

Many people go to great lengths to protect their sensitive personal information, and most probably assume their employer is watching out for them, too, but that wasn't the case for thousands of city workers who were part of a large-scale privacy breach. I-Team reporter Barry Simms has the details.

Updated: 7:01 AM EDT Jul 17, 2013

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I-Team probes security breach after workers' files found

Many people go to great lengths to protect their sensitive personal information, and most probably assume their employer is watching out for them, too, but that wasn't the case for thousands of city workers who were part of a large-scale privacy breach. I-Team reporter Barry Simms has the details.

Updated: 7:01 AM EDT Jul 17, 2013

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WEBVTT YOU MAY GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY. YOU ASSUME YOUR EMPLOYER WATCHES OUT FOR YOU AS WELL. THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF CITY EMPLOYEES. THEIR INFORMATION WAS OUT ON THE STREETS. INVESTIGATING THE PRIVACY BREACH. IT IS A SIMPLE CARDBOARD BOX. WHERE IT WAS FOUND, AND ITS CONTENTS MAY ASTOUND YOU. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. I CANNOT BELIEVE IT. AMENDED ON THE BOX TELLS THE I-TEAM HE WAS DRIVING BY A SAFETY OFFICE WHEN HE SAW A HUGE PILE OF FURNITURE AND OTHER ITEMS PUT UP FOR TRASH. HE THOUGHT HE COULD USE THE BOX FOR FILING. WHEN I GOT IT HOME, THAT IS WHEN I WAS DUMBFOUNDED. CONFIDENTIAL RECORDS WERE FOUND INSIDE FOR CURRENT AND OLD CITY EMPLOYEES. ALL OF THEIR VITAL INFORMATION, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, BIRTHDAYS, DRIVERS LICENSE INFORMATION, AND A LOT MORE. THIS TALKS ABOUT CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS. YES. I THOUGHT THAT IF NOTHING ELSE, THESE PEOPLE NEED PROTECTION. THE AT LEAST NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED. JEFF IS ONE OF THEM. HE IS A CURRENT CITY EMPLOYEE. WE LOCATED HIM ON HIS DAY OFF. THERE IS MY NAME AND MY DRIVERS LICENSE. I SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. THE PHONE NUMBER. DATE OF BIRTH. AN OLD SUPERVISOR OF MINE. HE RETIRED IN 1994 AFTER GETTING INJURED ON THE JOB FIVE YEARS EARLIER. THAT IS MY SO SECURITY NUMBER. WHO ELSE GOT IT? THE RECORDS OF PEER TO BE TRAINING LOGS -- THE INFORMATION APPEARS TO BE TRAINING LOGS. I THINK IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT THE CITY LETS THEIR PRIVATE INFORMATION GET ON THE STREET LIKE THIS. SOMEONE SHOULD BE RECOMMENDED. THE MINIVAN THAT SAYS IT IS NOT THE ONLY FILE BOX THAT WAS TOSSED UP. ANOTHER WAS TOO HEAVY TO LIFT. HE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT WAS IN IT. JUST A FEW ITEMS WERE STILL THERE. THAT OTHER ONE WAS GONE. HE COULDN'T BELIEVE HIS EYES. HIS JOB OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IS TO EDUCATE CONSUMERS ABOUT PROTECTING THE PRIVATE INFORMATION FROM IDENTITY THEFT. IT IS FRUSTRATING WHEN THEY DO ALL THE RIGHT STEPS, AND THEN A BUSINESS OR SOME OTHER ORGANIZATION ASKED CARELESSLY WITH THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION. UNDER MARYLAND LAW, BUSINESSES ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE CERTAIN PRECAUTIONS IN HANDLING AND DESTROY RECORDS, OR FACE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN CIVIL PENALTIES. WE DISCOVER AGENCIES ARE EXEMPT. THAT CHANGES FOR MANY OF THEM IN JULY 2014. THAT THESE KINDS OF THINGS HAVE TO BE IN PLACE BECAUSE PEOPLE LIVES ARE BEING BREACHED ALL OVER THE WORLD, IT IS CREATING HAVOC IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. IT IS DISAPPOINTING. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE. WE ARE ENTRUSTED WITH PERSONAL INFORMATION OF OUR EMPLOYEES. IT IS OUR RESPONSE BELOW TO PROTECT IT. I'VE ASKED THE DIRECTOR TO FULLY INVESTIGATE AND MAKE SURE IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. IT WAS JUST SITTING OUT THERE. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SITTING OUT THERE. APPARENTLY, THE BOX WAS PUT UP FOR TRASH WHEN WORKERS WERE CLEANING OUT THE TRAINING OFFICES. OF RACISM THING HAPPENED. WE HAVE TO FIND OUT HOW THAT HAPPENED. -- A CITY EMPLOYEE IS WORRIED. I'M GOING TO CONTACT ALL THE CREDIT AGENCIES AND PUT AN ALERT ON MY CREDIT, AND MY ID. SO SOMEONE IS NOT TRY TO STEM IDENTITY. I AM BARRY SIMMS. WHILE THE NEW LAW THAT BARRY MENTIONED AS OPPOSED TO TIGHTEN THE HANDLING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION BY STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES ARE NOT INCLUDED.